Inside the Miami Marlins with MLB.com beat writer Joe FrisaroTwitter

Gearing up for UM

On Thursday, manager Fredi Gonzalez announced the Marlins would start Ricky Nolasco on March 3 against the University of Miami.

On Friday, Gonzalez shed some light on who else would be in the starting lineup. Gaby Sanchez, who attended UM, will start at first base. Sanchez is competing with Logan Morrison for the first base job.

The Marlins open their Grapefruit League schedule on March 4 at Roger Dean Stadium against the Nationals.

The team hasn’t announced who will be the starting pitcher.

During the Grapefruit League season, the Marlins plan on batting their pitchers instead of using the designated hitter, which they have traditionally done in early Spring Training games. The reason? Because a number o the Marlins young starting pitchers haven’t had many at-bats in either their Minor League or big league careers.

The team will use the DH when playing in American League parks. But when they play A.L. teams at home, the pitchers will bat.

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